Rubber landscape paver having opposing patterned surfaces

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for a rubber landscape paver having opposing patterned surfaces.

BACKGROUND

An inevitable effect of society's dependence upon automobiles and otherequipment utilizing rubber components is the generation of rubber waste.For example, approximately 65 million tires are added to landfills eachyear in the United States. In an effort to curtail the growing stores ofscrapped rubber products, scrap rubber is often reclaimed, resulting inthe generation of ground rubber particles. Such rubber particles can beused in a number of industries and may be formed into a variousproducts.

One such product that may be formed from ground recycled rubber is therubber landscape paver. Rubber landscape pavers are marketed as anattractive, affordable, and safer alternative to brick or stone patiosurfaces and ground-coverings. However, rubber landscape pavers areoften utilized for outdoor applications, where UV exposure and weathercause the pavers to fade in color and deteriorate in structure. Existingrubber landscape pavers comprise only a single patterned side configuredto face upwardly. As such, existing rubber landscape pavers needreplacement sooner than is desired. Another limitation of such existingrubber landscape pavers is that when placed in an array, runoff water,e.g., from rain, is only permitted to flow between the pavers, therebylimiting the drainage properties of the pavers. Additionally, moisturemay collect beneath the pavers leading to mold and damage to the surfacebelow the pavers. Also, existing landscape pavers require excessivestorage space. What is needed is a rubber landscape paver that overcomesone or more of these limitations.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a rubber landscape paver is provided, the rubberlandscape paver comprising: ground rubber; a binder; and a substantiallyflat profile, comprising: a first side having a first patterned surface;and a second side having a second patterned surface, wherein the firstside is opposite the second side.

In another embodiment, a rubber landscape paver is provided, the rubberlandscape paver comprising: ground rubber comprising rubber from arecycled tire; a binder; and a substantially flat profile, comprising: afirst side having a first patterned surface; and a second side having asecond patterned surface. In one embodiment, the first side is oppositethe second side and the first patterned surface and second patternedsurface comprise at least one of a brick face pattern, an etna pattern,and an ashlar pattern.

In another embodiment, a rubber landscape paver is provided, the rubberlandscape paver comprising: ground rubber comprising recycled rubber; abinder; a substantially flat profile, comprising: a first side having afirst patterned surface; and a second side having a second patternedsurface, wherein the first side is opposite the second side, wherein thefirst patterned surface and second patterned surface comprise at leastone of a brick face pattern, an etna pattern, and an ashlar pattern, andwherein the first patterned surface and second patterned surfacecomprise different patterns; and four edges, each having an equallength, wherein the length is between about 12 inches and about 36inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate various example apparatuses andsystems, and are used merely to illustrate various example embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example arrangement of a rubber landscape paverhaving opposing patterned surfaces.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example arrangement of a rubber landscapepaver having opposing patterned surfaces.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example arrangement of a rubber landscapepaver having opposing patterned surfaces.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example arrangement of a rubber landscapepaver having opposing patterned surfaces.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example array of rubber landscape pavers havingopposing patterned surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one example embodiment of a rubber landscape paverhaving opposing patterned surfaces. Rubber landscape paver 100 includesa first side having a first patterned surface 110 and a plurality ofedges 120. The pattern of first patterned surface 110 is created by aplurality of grooves 130. Rubber landscape paver 100 further comprises asecond side having a second patterned surface (not shown). The patternof the second patterned surface (not shown) is created by a plurality ofgrooves (not shown). Rubber landscape paver 100 comprises asubstantially flat profile, such that the first side and second side oflandscape paver 100 are substantially planar, with the exception of thegrooves that form each pattern. In one embodiment, the first side isopposite the second side.

In one embodiment, rubber landscape paver 100 includes ground rubber.The ground rubber may be the majority of material making up rubberlandscape paver 100. In one embodiment, the ground rubber comprises anyrubber having desired characteristics and ground to a desired size forforming into a landscape paver. In another embodiment, the ground rubbercomprises recycled rubber. In another embodiment, the ground rubbercomprises rubber from a recycled tire.

In one embodiment, rubber landscape paver 100 includes a binder. Thebinder may act to bind together the individual ground rubber particlesso as to cause the particles to maintain the shape of rubber landscapepaver 100. In one embodiment, the binder is one or more of any knownchemical binders capable of bonding individual rubber particles to oneanother. In another embodiment, the binder comprises urethane. In yetanother embodiment, the binder comprises latex.

Rubber landscape paver 100 includes a periphery defined by the pluralityof edges 120. In one embodiment, landscape paver 100 comprises aperiphery having a rectilinear shape. In another embodiment, landscapepaver 100 comprises a periphery having a square shape. In anotherembodiment, landscape paver 100 comprises a periphery having aquadrilateral shape. In yet another embodiment, landscape paver 100comprises a periphery having a dog bone shape having dimensions incompliance with the industry standard for dog bone pavers. In anotherembodiment, landscape paver 100 comprises a periphery having a roundshape. In still another embodiment, landscape paver 100 comprises aperiphery that is natural and/or crooked such as to resemble a steppingstone.

In one embodiment, at least two of the plurality of edges 120 has alength between about 12 inches and about 36 inches. In one embodiment,landscape paver 100 comprises four edges 120, each of which has a lengthbetween about 12 inches and about 36 inches. In another embodiment,landscape paver 100 comprises four edges 120, each of which has a lengthof about 12 inches. In yet another embodiment, landscape paver 100comprises four edges 120, each of which has a length of about 16 inches.In still another embodiment, landscape paver 100 comprises four edges120, each of which has a length of about 24 inches. In one embodiment,the plurality of edges 120 may be configured to interlock with theplurality of edges 120 of another rubber landscape paver 100. In oneembodiment, rubber landscape paver 100 has a thickness between about0.50 inches and about 1.50 inches. In another embodiment, rubberlandscape paver 100 has a thickness between about 0.50 inches and about0.75 inches.

In one embodiment, landscape paver 100 is formed by mixing a binderthroughout a quantity of ground rubber. This mixture is then placed intoa mold under required conditions to set the mixture and form an at leastsubstantially solid rubber landscape paver 100. In one embodiment, themixture is placed into a mold wherein heat, pressure, or a combinationof heat and pressure is applied to set the mixture and form an at leastsubstantially solid rubber landscape paver 100. The mold is configuredto apply grooves 130 forming a first patterned surface 110 on a firstside, as well as grooves (not shown) forming a second patterned surfaceon a second side (not shown). The mixture may also include a dyeconfigured to color the mixture such that the rubber landscape paver isa desired color. In one embodiment, first patterned surface 110 andfirst side are opposite second patterned surface and second side (notshown), such that first patterned surface 110 faces substantiallyupwardly and the second side having a second patterned surface facessubstantially downwardly. In another embodiment, first patterned surface110 and first side are opposite second patterned surface and second side(not shown), such that first patterned surface 110 faces substantiallydownwardly and the second side having a second patterned surface facessubstantially upwardly.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example embodiment of a rubber landscapepaver having opposing patterned surfaces. Rubber landscape paver 200includes a first side having a first patterned surface 210. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, first patterned surface 210 comprises a brickface pattern.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example embodiment of a rubber landscapepaver having opposing patterned surfaces. Rubber landscape paver 300includes a first side having a first patterned surface 310. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, first patterned surface 310 comprises an etnapattern.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example embodiment of a rubber landscapepaver having opposing patterned surfaces. Rubber landscape paver 400includes a first side having a first patterned surface 410. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, first patterned surface 410 comprises an ashlarpattern.

In one embodiment, rubber landscape pavers 200, 300, and 400, include asecond side having a second patterned surface (not shown), wherein thesecond patterned surface comprises at least one of a brick face pattern,an etna pattern, and an ashlar pattern. In one embodiment, firstpatterned surface and second patterned surface (not shown) comprise thesame pattern. In this embodiment, a user may acquire the required numberof landscape pavers to fill the ground area they wish to cover. Forexample, the first patterned surface and second patterned surface mayboth be a brick face pattern. The user may install the landscape paversin a desired array with a first patterned surface facing upwardly.Typically the landscape pavers are oriented in a grid pattern andcontiguous at their edges to form a continuous covering within theapplication area. After extended use, the landscape pavers may becomeworn, faded, or deteriorated, especially where the pavers have beenexposed to UV light and weather. At this point, rather than simplydiscard the landscape paver as one would with an ordinarysingle-patterned surface paver, the landscape paver having opposingpatterned surfaces can be turned over, such that what was theupwardly-facing surface becomes the downwardly-facing surface. Likewise,what was the downwardly-facing surface becomes the upwardly-facingsurface. Because the new upwardly-facing surface was not exposed tointeraction with objects, UV light, or weather, it is a relativelyunflawed brick face patterned surface and provides a revitalized surfacefor an additional period of time. As such, one may utilize the rubberlandscape paver to its fullest extent before discarding. While the brickface pattern was referenced for this specific example, it is understoodthat any pattern, including the etna and ashlar pattern, can be used inthe same manner.

In another embodiment, first patterned surface and second patternedsurface (not shown) comprise a different pattern. For example, the firstpatterned surface comprises a brick face pattern and the secondpatterned surface comprises an etna pattern. The user may install therubber landscape pavers in a desired array with either the firstpatterned surface facing upwardly, the second patterned surface facingupwardly, or a combination of the first patterned surface and secondpatterned surface facing upwardly. After exposure to wear, UV light, andweather, the upwardly-facing surface may become faded and deteriorated,at which point the user may simply turn the rubber landscape pavers oversuch that the first patterned surface, second patterned surface, or acombination thereof is facing upwardly with a relatively unflawedpatterned surface. While the brick face pattern and etna pattern werereferenced for this specific example, it is understood that any twopatterns, in any combination (including the ashlar pattern) can be usedin the same manner.

In another embodiment, the rubber landscape paver is configured toresemble a stepping stone. For example, the rubber landscape paver mayinclude a first patterned surface and a second patterned surfacecomprising a pattern that might appear naturally in nature on a realstone. The stepping stone rubber landscape paver may be placed eitherindependently to create a pathway of stepping stones, or contiguous toother rubber landscape pavers to form a patio surface orground-covering. As described above, upon wear, UV degradation, andweathering of the upwardly-facing first patterned surface, the steppingstone rubber landscape paver may be turned over such that the secondpatterned surface is upwardly facing. The second patterned surface maybe relatively unflawed due to its isolation from wear, weathering, andUV light.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example array of rubber landscape pavers havingopposing patterned surfaces. Rubber landscape pavers 500 include a firstside having a first patterned surface. First patterned surface maycomprise an etna pattern 510 and second patterned surface may comprise abrick face pattern 520. FIG. 5 illustrates an example array whereinbrick face-patterned landscape pavers and etna-patterned landscapepavers may be arranged in a configuration as desired by a user.

In one embodiment, the rubber landscape paver is configured such thatthe first patterned surface comprises grooves and the second patternedsurface comprises grooves, wherein the grooves are configured to permitthe passage of water. In one example embodiment, a plurality oflandscape pavers are placed in an array adjacent to one another. Thefirst patterned surface of each rubber landscape paver faces upwardly,while the second patterned surface faces downwardly and interfaces witha supporting surface, such as a cement slab. Water, such as rain, fallsonto and flows over the first patterned surface, after which it may flowoff of the rubber landscape paver at its edges and onto the supportingsurface below. While this runoff can travel between the pavers, thegrooves of the second patterned surface also permit the runoff to travelbeneath the array of rubber landscape pavers and eventually off thesupporting surface. This design thereby improves and accelerates thedrainage properties of the array of rubber landscape pavers, and helpsprevent water and moisture from collecting beneath the pavers andcausing mold and damage to the supporting surface. Additionally, thegrooves of the second patterned surface may permit the flow of airbeneath the pavers to assist in the drying and prevention of moisturebuildup.

In one embodiment, the rubber landscape pavers comprise dimensions equalto the industry standard dimensions of existing single-sided rubberlandscape pavers. Accordingly, a wholesaler, retailer, or other suppliercan effectively halve the space required to store its rubber landscapepavers, because a single rubber landscape pavers having opposingdifferent patterned surfaces replaces two of the previous design'spavers. For example, a rubber landscape paver having a first patternedsurface comprising a brick face pattern, and a second patterned surfacecomprising an etna pattern, can be sold as either a brick face-patternedpaver or an etna-patterned paver. Previously, a supplier would have hadto stock both a brick face-patterned single-sided paver and anetna-patterned single-sided paver. Because the rubber landscape paverhaving opposing patterned surfaces comprises the same dimensions as thesingle-sided pavers, a supplier's valuable storage space for pavers canbe cut by half or more. In addition, the shipping weight of rubberlandscape pavers can be effectively halved, based upon the sameprinciples above. Finally, the rubber landscape paver having opposingpatterned surfaces effectively halves the required manufacturing time,energy, raw material, and other resources because it is no longernecessary to produce two single-sided pavers.

Because the rubber landscape paver having opposing patterned surfaceshas two surfaces, wherein only one surface at a time is exposed to UVlight, wear, and weather, its lifespan is approximately doubled, therebyreducing a consumer's investment, as well as reducing the amount ofdiscarded rubber landscape pavers. In one embodiment, the rubberlandscape paver having opposing patterned surfaces comprises dimensionsequal to the industry standard dimensions of existing single-sidedrubber landscape pavers. Thus, the novel rubber landscape paver iscompatible with the previous paver designs, such that it can be used toreplace less than all of the rubber landscape pavers in an array.Finally, because the rubber landscape paver having opposing patternedsurfaces may comprise the two most popular patterns on its opposingsides, a consumer can enjoy the convenience of simply purchasing thedesired color and/or dimension of rubber landscape pavers withoutconcerning himself or herself with the pattern until installation.

To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is used in thespecification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a mannersimilar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted whenemployed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extentthat the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “Aor B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B butnot both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed.Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not theexclusive use. See Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into”are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended toadditionally mean “on” or “onto.” To the extent that the term“selectively” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intendedto refer to a condition of a component wherein a user of the apparatusmay activate or deactivate the feature or function of the component asis necessary or desired in use of the apparatus. To the extent that theterm “operatively connected” is used in the specification or the claims,it is intended to mean that the identified components are connected in away to perform a designated function. Finally, where the term “about” isused in conjunction with a number, it is intended to include ±10% of thenumber. In other words, “about 10” may mean from 9 to 11.

As stated above, while the present application has been illustrated bythe description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments havebeen described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theapplicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications willreadily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the application,in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details,illustrative examples shown, or any apparatus referred to. Departuresmay be made from such details, examples, and apparatuses withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.

1. A rubber landscape paver, comprising: ground rubber; a binder; and asubstantially flat profile, comprising: a first side having a firstpatterned surface; and a second side having a second patterned surface,wherein the first side is opposite the second side.
 2. The rubberlandscape paver of claim 1, wherein the ground rubber comprises rubberfrom a recycled tire.
 3. The rubber landscape paver of claim 1, whereinthe ground rubber comprises recycled rubber.
 4. The rubber landscapepaver of claim 1, wherein the binder comprises urethane.
 5. The rubberlandscape paver of claim 1, wherein the binder comprises latex.
 6. Therubber landscape paver of claim 1, wherein the rubber landscape pavercomprises a periphery having a rectilinear shape.
 7. The rubberlandscape paver of claim 1, wherein the rubber landscape paver comprisesa periphery having a square shape.
 8. The rubber landscape paver ofclaim 1, wherein the rubber landscape paver comprises a periphery havinga quadrilateral shape.
 9. The rubber landscape paver of claim 1, whereinthe rubber landscape paver comprises at least two edges having a lengthbetween about 12 inches and about 36 inches.
 10. The rubber landscapepaver of claim 7, wherein the rubber landscape paver comprises fouredges, each having a length between about 12 inches and about 36 inches.11. The rubber landscape paver of claim 1, wherein the first patternedsurface comprises at least one of a brick face pattern, an etna pattern,and an ashlar pattern.
 12. The rubber landscape paver of claim 1,wherein the second patterned surface comprises at least one of a brickface pattern, an etna pattern, and an ashlar pattern.
 13. The rubberlandscape paver of claim 1, wherein the first patterned surface and thesecond patterned surface comprise the same pattern.
 14. The rubberlandscape paver of claim 1, wherein the first patterned surface and thesecond patterned surface comprise different patterns.
 15. The rubberlandscape paver of claim 1, wherein the rubber landscape paver isconfigured such that the first side having a first patterned surfacefaces substantially upwardly and the second side having a secondpatterned surface faces substantially downwardly.
 16. A rubber landscapepaver, comprising ground rubber comprising rubber from a recycled tire;a binder; and a substantially flat profile, comprising: a first sidehaving a first patterned surface; and a second side having a secondpatterned surface, wherein the first side is opposite the second sideand wherein the first patterned surface and second patterned surfacecomprise at least one of a brick face pattern, an etna pattern, and anashlar pattern.
 17. The rubber landscape paver of claim 16, wherein thefirst patterned surface and the second patterned surface comprise thesame pattern.
 18. The rubber landscape paver of claim 16, wherein thefirst patterned surface and the second patterned surface comprisedifferent patterns.
 19. The rubber landscape paver of claim 16, whereinthe rubber landscape paver comprises four edges, each having a lengthbetween about 12 inches and about 36 inches.
 20. The rubber landscapepaver of claim 16, wherein the rubber landscape paver comprises aperiphery having a square shape.
 21. A rubber landscape paver,comprising ground rubber comprising recycled rubber; a binder; asubstantially flat profile, comprising: a first side having a firstpatterned surface; and a second side having a second patterned surface,wherein the first side is opposite the second side, wherein the firstpatterned surface and second patterned surface comprise at least one ofa brick face pattern, an etna pattern, and an ashlar pattern, andwherein the first patterned surface and second patterned surfacecomprise different patterns; and four edges, each having an equallength, wherein the length is between about 12 inches and about 36inches.